US4367440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High percentage water content monitor
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1980-10-17
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Granted: 1983-01-04
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Expires: 2000-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A monitor which is capable of measuring accurately the water content in percent by volume of an oil and brine mixture, where the water content is 80% or more, includes a housing which is adapted to be connected to a pipe through which the oil and brine mixture is flowing so that the oil and brine mixture flows through a portion of the housing. A sensor is mounted within the housing so that the sensor is suspended in the flowing oil and brine mixture. The sensor provides a signal corresponding to the percent by volume of water in the oil and brine mixture, even when percent by volume of water is 80% or more, in response to an excitation voltage from a source. Indicating apparatus provides an indication of the percent by volume of the water in the oil and brine mixture in accordance with the signal from the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy P. Mazzagatti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An oil-in-brine mixture comprising housing means connected to a pipe having an oil and brine mixture flowing through the pipe in a manner so that the oil and brine mixture flows through a portion of the housing means; sensor means mounted within said housing means in a manner so that the sensor means will be suspended in the flowing mixture, said sensor means includes water sensing means for detecting the water content of oil and brine mixtures having a water content of 80% or more by volume and providing a sensed water signal representative thereof, and temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the oil and brine mixture and provides a representative temperature signal; means electrically connected to said sensor means for providing an excitation voltage to said sensor means; and means for providing an indication of the percent by volume of the water in the oil and brine mixture in accordance with the sensed water signal and the temperature signal from the sensor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An oil-in-brine mixture comprising housing means connected to a pipe having an oil and brine mixture flowing through the pipe in a manner so that the oil and brine mixture flows through a portion of the housing means; sensor means mounted within said housing means in a manner so that the sensor means will be suspended in the flowing mixture, said sensor means includes water sensing means for detecting the water content of oil and brine mixtures having a water content of 80% or more by volume and providing a sensed water signal representative thereof, and temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the oil and brine mixture and provides a representative temperature signal; means electrically connected to said sensor means for providing an excitation voltage to said sensor means; and means for providing an indication of the percent by volume of the water in the oil and brine mixture in accordance with the sensed water signal and the temperature signal from the sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
A monitor as described in claim 1 in which the housing means includes a pair of adaptor means having approximately the same diameter as that of the pipe, chamber means affixed between the adaptor means and increasing in diameter from the adapting means diameter to a larger diameter of sufficient dimension to house the sensor means and having an opening with sufficient clearance for said sensor means to pass through it, and sealing means for sealing said sensor means within said housing means while permitting the passage of electrical conductors from the sensor means to the excitation means and to the indicating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A monitor as described in claim 2 in which the temperature sensing means is a thermistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
A monitor as described in claim 3 in which the sensing means includes a head having a channel through which the oil flows, a pair of toroidal coils mounted in the channel of the mounting head, one coil receiving the excitation voltage, the other coil providing the sensed water signal in accordance with an electromagnetic field developed in the oil and brine mixture by the one coil in response to the excitation voltage, sensor arm means which passes through the sealing means of the housing means having threaded ends and a channel for the passage of wires, connector means for connecting said head means to said sensor arm means so that when said sensor head means is positioned the oil-in-brine mixture flows through it, the thermistor, and wire means for connecting the one coil to the excitation means and the other coil to the indicating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A monitor as described in claim 4 in which the sealing means includes flange means in which the sensor arm means is affixed and permanently sealed, O-ring sealing means arranged with said flange means so that when said flange means is mated with said chamber means, the O-ring means provides sealing, and means for fastening the flange means to said chamber means in a manner so that the head means when connected to the sensor arm by the connector passes through the opening of said chamber means and is positioned in said chamber means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of monitoring oil-in-brine comprising the steps of arranging a housing with a pipe having an oil and brine mixture flowing through the pipe in a manner so that the oil and brine mixture flows through a portion of the housing, detecting the water content of oil and brine mixtures having a water content of 80% or more by volume with a water sensing device mounted within said housing means in a manner so that the sensing device will be suspended in the flowing mixture, providing a sensed water signal representative of the detected water content, sensing the temperature of the oil and brine mixture with a temperature sensor mounted within said housing means in a manner so that the temperature sensor will be suspended in the flowing mixture, providing a representative temperature signal in accordance with the sensed temperature, providing an excitation voltage to said water sensing device, and providing an indication of the percent by volume of the water in the oil and brine mixture in accordance with the sensed water signal and the sensed temperature signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of monitoring oil-in-brine comprising the steps of arranging a housing with a pipe having an oil and brine mixture flowing through the pipe in a manner so that the oil and brine mixture flows through a portion of the housing, detecting the water content of oil and brine mixtures having a water content of 80% or more by volume with a water sensing device mounted within said housing means in a manner so that the sensing device will be suspended in the flowing mixture, providing a sensed water signal representative of the detected water content, sensing the temperature of the oil and brine mixture with a temperature sensor mounted within said housing means in a manner so that the temperature sensor will be suspended in the flowing mixture, providing a representative temperature signal in accordance with the sensed temperature, providing an excitation voltage to said water sensing device, and providing an indication of the percent by volume of the water in the oil and brine mixture in accordance with the sensed water signal and the sensed temperature signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as described in claim 6 in which the detecting step includes transmitting electromagnetic energy into the flowing oil and brine mixture in response to the excitation voltage, receiving the electromagnetic energy at another location in the flowing mixture within said housing, and providing the sensed water signal in accordance with the received electromagnetic energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3404336A
Cited
US4220920A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-03 | 1986-07-05 | 1987-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-03 | 1990-07-05 | 1991-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-03 | 1994-07-05 | 1995-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |